"All Hell: First Chapter" by Joanne Barnden

Novena 529
1.
gjdes, zuk’nnal

“Sha’kan, Sha’kan, where are you?” A series of thumps filled the house. “SHA’KAN!”
The front door of this establishment had been open a crack, due to being slammed, but on hearing that last desperate bellow, although understanding not one word, a man shoved it fully open.
“What’s going on?” the man called into the hallway that had been revealed. “Ve’coz? Sha’kan?”
“Xan? Is that you?” another man came down the hallway, agitation evident in his every movement. “Xan, what are you doing here?”
Xan Kagealz Da-zain Rate was an angel. He was called an angel by the women of the emperor’s court, as he was an accomplished rake, and his looks only inspired thoughts of angels. His skin never darkened beyond a light gold and his crowning glory was sun-stained blonde curls. His eyes were blue, the kind that always looked innocent, but his angelic features would have been heightened if he lost his small pointed beard. The ladies never took into account his reckless nature and hair-trigger temper. His age was another thing that appealed to the ladies. He was thought to be roughly eight-and-twenty, much younger than many at court, as well as most of the ladies. Though at the moment, he would not appeal to many of those same ladies, Xan was wearing soft leather boots and what looked like blue silk hose. He also had on a sweat stained formal shirt and waistcoat, the waistcoat was hanging open and the ruffles on the formal shirt were limp and hanging loose. Xan always wore a heavy gold signet ring on his right hand, and a heavy gold ring in one of his ears. He had obviously not come from a dinner party.
Xan took up a defensive stance, crossing his arms. “I heard you were leaving, Ve’coz.”
“Don’t you understand, Xan?” Ve’coz stood in the doorway of the establishment, Xan having moved out the door. “I did not have a choice in the matter.”
“Why did you do it, Ve’coz?” Xan asked. “Make me understand your reasoning. I need to know.”
Ve’coz sighed. “If they did not believe me, I presume I should not expect anyone else to.”
“Believe you? Of course I . . .” Xan trailed off.
“See?”
Xan punched the wall. “Camaxa dienta,” he swore, massaging his knuckles. “Ve’coz, I do believe that you are innocent of what the incompetents accused you of, but why are you leaving the city if you are innocent?”
Ve’coz sighed deeply again. “Grime sticks, Xan. Even if it washes off, I am tired of the city, and all the people here.”
“That was all you needed to say, Ve’coz. I understand. Kemay is too much for you,” Xan knew he was going to regret the last comment as soon as it left his mouth.
“Camaxa Dienta, xanay maschata,” Ve’coz swore. “Do you not know Xan? Kemay got me into this- this terrible mess.”
Xan blinked. “Really? That is- not what some have disclosed to me.”
Ve’coz got a dangerous expression on his face. “What kind of disclosure did these ‘some’ tell you?”
Xan moved back, looking apprehensive.
Ve’coz Nian~Cazell Hein was a very big man. He was said to have topped six foot on his tenth birth day, but none knew if that was just a rumour. He was much taller than that now, at the approximate age of nine-and-twenty, it seemed he hadn’t allowed himself to age since he was five-and-twenty and being a vampire, it didn’t matter. He was handsome enough, with a thick bushy black beard and a cascading mop of black curls. His eyes were black and his skin tanned from spending too much time in the deserts on errands for the emperor. He was known around court to be an even-tempered man, but to those who knew him well, he had a temper to match his size. However, he knew well how to keep that temper leashed, so it was not common knowledge. Ve’coz was dressed in a morning coat and breeches, with his shirt and ruffles perfectly pressed and starched. His boots had been shined so that they could serve for a perfectly adequate mirror.
Xan felt like backing up more than he already had, then turning and running like a frightened rabbit to the otherside of the city, since Ve’coz’s face had a cold hard look to it which was distinctly threatening.
“Master Ve’coz?” the voice made Ve’coz start and Xan sigh in relief. “You were seeking me?”
“Sha’kan, yes!” Ve’coz turned fully to meet the gaze of his butler.
Sha’kan Andyoan Castoriok worked for Ve’coz. There had always been some mystery and confusion attached to this, but for the most part that was how it appeared. Sha’kan was no more than about four foot tall, and stooped. He also shuffled as he walked, another sign of great age, and his hair was silver and tied at the back of his neck with a black ribbon. His skin fell in wrinkles on his face and his hands. Sha’kan was known to be old, but no one, least of all Ve’coz, had anyway of knowing exactly how old he was, because Sha’kan was a child of the night, a vampire, and like born-immortals, they could live forever. His eyes were the youngest thing about him, they were usually filled with silent amusement, and were light green. He was dressed in black knee breeches, white stockings, black shoes with silver buckles and he had a ruffled cravat over a black jacket and waistcoat. His most noticeable feature, above and beyond his apparent great age, was a disfiguring scar, running from his hairline to his chin. It made him appear, as old and feeble as he seemed, to be dangerous.
“You wanted me for something Master Ve’coz?”
“Yes,” Ve’coz replied. “I did want you for something. Start packing anything that is absolutely needed and won’t really be missed. We’ll leave most of the furniture here.”
“As you wish, Master Ve’coz,” Sha’kan bowed and shuffled out of the room.
“So you really are leaving,” Xan came further inside the house. “The ladies will be disappointed.” Xan waited a beat. “But why are you leaving all your furniture behind you?”
Ve’coz just looked at him. “So that no one knows that I’ve gone.” He then turned his back on Xan and walked down the hallway and disappeared into his sitting room. Frowning, Xan followed him.
“What do you mean so that no one will know that you are gone?”
Ve’coz leant forward to where a teapot was sitting on the table in front of him. He poured himself a cup of tea and leant back in his chair.
“Ve’coz?” Xan sat opposite to him. “Why?”
Ve’coz looked at him solemnly. “I would prefer not to be found once I leave, Xan. It makes things a lot easier.”
Xan frowned and leant forward towards the teapot. Ve’coz began to talk of other things, court trivialities. But still Xan was not satisfied.
Some time later, Sha’kan came into the parlour where Ve’coz and Xan were still talking of nothing and drinking tea. On a salver he had a small white card, and he went straight to Ve’coz with it.
“What do you have there, Sha’kan?” Ve’coz asked, turning in his chair to face him. Sha’kan kept his face impassive and held the salver in front of Ve’coz until he picked up the card.
Ve’coz read the card, and then got to his feet, his face an expression of fear until his control re-exerted itself and his face went blank.
“What is it?” Xan asked, also getting to his feet.
“I have been summoned to the palace.” Ve’coz answered, placing the card back on the salver that Sha’kan was holding.
Xan nodded. “Do you think this is because you are leaving?”
Ve’coz turned to look at Xan. “I would not be surprised.” He sighed deeply. “I have just enough time to change my clothes before going to meet him.”
Xan watched him carefully. “Be careful of what you are saying, Ve’coz. He cannot prove what he does not know.”
Ve’coz smiled once before turning and leaving the room.

He arrived in his best clothes at the palace half an hour later, and presented himself in the right parlour for the emperor’s convenience. He sat down in a chair on the side of the room to wait.
“Why, if it isn’t Ve’coz.” The voice came from the other side of the room and Ve’coz looked up resignedly.
“Eshtan.”
Eshtan al Karid was Da Ghe Iro’s right hand man. It was rare that you saw Eshtan far from the Emperor’s side. He, like Xan, was a favourite of the ladies, and once, he had been Ve’coz’s most trusted friend. That friendship had ended however, as Ve’coz had become more disillusioned by visits made to some of the kingdoms in the empire. Eshtan’s age was about as hard to determine as Sha’kan’s but for a totally different reason. He looked the same age as Xan, but he must have stopped ageing at some point and no one really saw it as a bad thing. Eshtan had thick black hair that was tied carefully at the base of his head. Eshtan’s eyes were a deep and compelling green, a fact which he used to his advantage many a time, and while his eyes seemed warm, he was as cold as ice and twice as hard. Eshtan was well dressed in a black frock coat and breeches, with his white shirt and ruffles impeccable.
“What are you here for Ve’coz?” Eshtan asked, smoothing one of his ruffles. He wasn’t looking at Ve’coz when he said it, but Ve’coz knew that he was paying very close attention to him all the same.
“I have come to see the Emperor.” Ve’coz replied quietly, not willing to let just anything loose to Eshtan, no matter that they had been very good friends.
“Ahhh,” Eshtan replied, looking up at Ve’coz. “And where is Xan?”
Ve’coz sighed. He was on more common ground here. He could reply his normal sort of reply and Eshtan wouldn’t get suspicious. “We are not joined at the hip, Eshtan. I do not know where Xan is.”
“Master Hein.” The servant reappeared and called Ve’coz’s name. “His Imperial Majesty will see you now.”
Ve’coz got to his feet, bowed at Eshtan and walked past the servant into the room. The Emperor, His Imperial Majesty, Da Ghe Iro Guend was sitting on his throne at the far end of the room.
Ve’coz entered, and stood at the door, waiting for the Emperor to acknowledge him.
It was a couple of minutes before the emperor looked up to see where Ve’coz was waiting patiently. As soon as he looked up, Ve’coz dropped to his knees and bowed.
Da Ghe Iro waved a hand, and Ve’coz got back to his feet.
There were many and varied rumours in the human world about their emperor, but as they didn’t believe in such things, stories told by their elders, who were growing increasingly knowledgeable about the emperor, went unnoticed. The emperor’s appearance was unchanged from when he had started to rule to now, which was roughly 400 novena. This was proved if anyone cared to look at the vanity portrait the emperor had had painted on his coronation. There was no doubting it, the emperor was a very handsome man. His hair was as black as a raven’s wing and was brushed back from his face. His skin was tanned and his clothes were rich brocade. But it was his eyes that could single handedly make you cringe. They were black obsidian, and totally opaque. The light was reflected in them, and it gave even the toughest vampires in the court the shivers.
“There has come to our ear, a little rumour.” Da Ghe Iro stated silbantly. Ve’coz didn’t flinch, just looked back at him with a blank face. “That you, Ve’coz Nian~Cazell, are thinking of a dreadful sin. Leaving our service without giving us due warning.”
Ve’coz knew unerringly that Da Ghe Iro would pounce on him if he showed any sign of discomfort, in either his expression or his mind. He didn’t allow himself the pleasure of swallowing before speaking. “Tell me of who soiled your ear with such a vile untruth, my emperor, and I will take care of their lying tongue.”
Da Ghe Iro looked at him, smiling slightly. “We were hoping you would take some action like we would, but unfortunately the origin of this particular rumour is unknown.”
Ve’coz, with that answer, delivered in the emperor’s smooth voice, knew exactly who had started the rumour and why he was not allowed to kill that particular person. He watched the emperor closely.
“But that is good,” Da Ghe Iro continued. “You are staying right here, where we can use you as we see fit.”
Ve’coz bowed again and waited.
“You may leave our presence.”

Eshtan was still standing outside the throne room. He smiled tightly when he saw Ve’coz relatively unscathed. Eshtan’s eyes narrowed when a servant came to tell him that the emperor wished to see him.
Ve’coz watched him walk in, and then turned and left the palace. Now he knew exactly when to leave. There would a be a watcher assigned to him, assigned to guard his every move by the end of the week, if not by the end of the day. He had to get out of there, and fast.

*